Limits for Pharmaceutical Substances Discharge

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I am looking for an international standard (or national specific legislation) that can guide me through or help compare analytical results regarding pharmaceutical liquid discharge into a sewage system or surface water body.

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12 Answers

  1. Dear Reina,

    Normally these limits are well defined by Pollution Control or Environmental Control authorities who are the agencies engaged in the maintaining the environment clean.

    The similar agencies are having all the required information, also they will help you in getting the required information as per local laws. 

    There is no standard  law book the norms changes as country changes.

  2. Check the Best available techniques Reference document (BREF) developed under the EU IPPC Directive for Organic Fine Materials, which include pharmaceuticals. http://eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reference/ofc.html

    Answered on by

  3. Pharmaceuticals are not a growing pollution matter in the USA as suggested by Mr Donnelly's comment. Pharmaceutical Industry Effluent Guidelines have been in effect for many years.Pharmaceuticals  have attracted some attention when reports of detections in wastewaters or drinking waters occur. It is clear that there are negligible human health concerns at the trace levels that are sometimes detected in surface drinking water supplies. Both World Health Organization and others have concluded that pharmaceuticals in drinking water are generally a negligible concern. Studies have shown that even in treated effluents (which are not consumed by people),  the Margin of Exposure compared to lowest therapeutic doses are frequently on the order of 1,000,000 or greater, and including additional margins of safety. However, it is clear that there can be aquatic biota effects in receiving water especially near sewage outfalls before significant dilution can occur. It is also generally agreed that the pharmaceuticals of greatest interest in those outfalls are the natural and synthetic human hormones that are shed by the community, rather than common synthetic  drugs. Measurements of stable non toxic  indicator chemicals like sucralose and caffein which is not as stable are good indicators of sewage input. The concentrations detected are commonly on the order of 1,000,000th of the amount consumed in a cup of coffee.

  4. Here in the U.S.A. we have Pre-Treatment Laws which hold the generators of specific wastes responsible to remove their respective constituents from their wastewater effluent. Pharmaceuticals have not been regulated previously; however; currently, regulations are being developed nationwide to address this growing pollution matter.

  5. Hi Adriana, 

    In Switzerland, the amended Waters Protection Ordinance (1998), which is based on the Federal Act on the Protection of Waters (1991), regulates the discharge of wastewater containing specific chemical compounds such as pesticides and/or pharmaceutical residuals.

    The European Union has adopted the Directive (2013/39/EU) on priority substances. It includes a watch list for currently 45 chemical compounds (incl. 19 identified priority hazardous substances), some of them are pharmaceuticals, to be monitored by all 28 EU member states.  

    The most efficient technology to reduce pharmaceutical residuals in water is ozonation and activated granulated carbon filtration.

    Best regards

    Bastian

    PS With regards to cost/benefit, the minimum standard is your target.   

  6. Dear Adriana,

    from the ethical and environmental point of view the request is 0 discharge without max possible treatment neither in the sewer system nor in the surface water body. 

    1. step: Optimisation of production process with reducing the waste as max as possible.

    2. step: Recycle whatever is possible

    3. step: Finally what is left for disposal need to be treated with cutting edge technologies

    As a designer it is your responsibility to find the best composition of the 3 steps mentioned above and your ethical and environmental responsibility is at least on the same level as the budget.

    No law or standard will remove that responsibility from your shoulders and your heart. 

    The maximal possible is your target not the lowest standards.

    Regards Wolf

    1 Comment

    1. Wolf, these are laudable aims and of course waste minimisation at source is always sensible. However, it is simply nonsense to suggest that "the maximal possible is your target" and to recommend "cutting edge technologies". The appropriate approach used to be called BATNEEC - that is "best available technology not entailing excessive cost".

      Adriana, Talk to the sewerage operator about your discharge and establish from them what they can accept and treat to an appropriate standard. Many pharmaceutical effluents are highly biodegradable and they will willingly accept the discharge without treatment (but charge you for doing so!) They can often treat more efficiency and effectively than a private industrial effluent treatment plant. Alternatively it may be economical for you to install a roughing treatment on your site. If there are toxic or non-biodegradable elements in the effluent, they can discuss and agree appropriate pre-treatment.

  7. Hi Adriana:

    There is a USEPA Effluent Guidelines/Limits which sets a limits on what and how much goes out into the sewer system. Please check this link: https://www.epa.gov/eg

    Thanks,

    Lue Tekola, PhD, P.E

    Answered on by

  8. Good Morning Ms. Reina

     

    As I have worked in pharmaceuticals, the medicine and raw material are expensive and also has dangerous effects if added to potable or raw water ,they increase ammonia, nitrates, floride,  so in pollution board says that or mentions 

     

    What quality of raw water the pharmaceutical takes that quality or near to that quality should be the discharge this is a new rule fallowed know 

    But some pharmaceuticals due to high price they are putting all waste in dry borewells hence the surrounding areas are getting polluted .

     

    What we take same or near to that quality we need to give back this rule is fallowed universally .

     

    Thank you 

    Wallis 

  9. Good Morning Ms. Reina;

    Phamaceuticals in sewage is a most serious issue...one that is not receiving enough attention.  Pharma sewage also includes animal pharma, not meant for human consumption.

    More serious attention needs escalation because remember...everyone lives downstream from somebody else.

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    1 Comment

  12. There are no general standards and such standards would be inappropriate. It will depend on the substances concerned and their degradability in the type of wastewater treatment system available. Discharge standards need to be adjusted to the circumstances so no easy answers.